Compare towns
Smithfield vs Exeter vs Johnston
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Rhode Island.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Smithfield has grown the fastest since 2010 (+3.2%).
Exeter has the most people working from home (17.2%).
Johnston has the most affordable homes ($356k median).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Smithfield | Exeter | Johnston |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | |||
| People | |||
| Population | 22,233 |
7,195Lowest |
29,835Highest |
| Growth since 20102010 → 2020 census | +3.2%Highest RI: +4.3% |
+0.5%Lowest RI: +4.3% |
+2.8% RI: +4.3% |
| Median age | 41.8±2.6 about the RI average |
37.7±5.9Lowest 7% below RI |
44.5±2.5Highest 10% above RI |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Kids under 18 | 16.9%±2.4Lowest RI: 18.8% |
19.7%±4.7Highest RI: 18.8% |
17.5%±2.4 RI: 18.8% |
| Exeter and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Age 65+ | 21.1%±2.1 RI: 18.7% |
18.2%±3.8Lowest RI: 18.7% |
22.1%±2.6Highest RI: 18.7% |
| Johnston and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 40% RI: 37.7% |
46.1%Highest RI: 37.7% |
28.9%Lowest RI: 37.7% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 16.7%±0.9Highest RI: 8.3% |
11.1%±6.3 RI: 8.3% |
6.1%±1.6Lowest RI: 8.3% |
| Smithfield and Exeter are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Cost of living | |||
| Household incomemedian | $102,077±$8k 16% above RI |
$111,250±$30kHighest 27% above RI |
$91,866±$6kLowest 5% above RI |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $446,400±$12k 10% above RI |
$509,200±$43kHighest 26% above RI |
$355,500±$13kLowest 12% below RI |
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | $1,016±$241Lowest 24% below RI |
$1,317±$307Highest about the RI average |
$1,275±$132 5% below RI |
| Exeter and Johnston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $5,207 6% above RI |
$5,881Highest 20% above RI |
$4,614Lowest 6% below RI |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 57.1%±17.7 RI: 48% |
91%±26.7Highest RI: 48% |
38.1%±8.7Lowest RI: 48% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Below poverty line | 6.2%Lowest RI: 11.2% |
12.8%Highest RI: 11.2% |
7.9% RI: 11.2% |
| Housing | |||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 81.6%Highest RI: 63.6% |
80.3% RI: 63.6% |
75.9%Lowest RI: 63.6% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1976 14 yrs newer than RI |
1987Highest 25 yrs newer than RI |
1968Lowest 6 yrs newer than RI |
| Getting to work | |||
| Average commuteone way | 25 minHighest 4% below RI |
22 minLowest 12% below RI |
24 min 7% below RI |
| Work from home | 14%±3.1 RI: 13% |
17.2%±6.1Highest RI: 13% |
9.9%±2.3Lowest RI: 13% |
| Exeter and Smithfield are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | |||
| Schools | |||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #8 of 38 in RI | #14 of 38 in RI | #32 of 38 in RI |
| School district | Smithfield | Exeter-West Greenwich | Johnston |
| High school in town | Smithfield High School | None in town | Johnston Senior High |
| Students per teacherat that high school | 11.8Highest |
— | 10.3Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | |||
| Old photos in History | None yet | None yet | None yet |
RI average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.